Holmes Construction Co. of Amarillo is doing the $2.6 million construction project, which is expected to be completed by mid-October. The project's funding comes 80 percent from federal highway funding and 20 percent from city dollars.

The project includes new base and surface for the nearly two miles of roadway between Interstate 40 and 45th Avenue. The project includes widening Coulter under the I-40 overpass.

The project will be completed in several phases. Contractors will work between 34th and 45th avenues until mid-April. Traffic in the area will be narrowed to one lane in each direction with a speed limit of 35 mph.

"Our main objective during this project is to keep traffic moving and keep people moving in and out of the businesses in the area," said Joe Chappell, Amarillo area engineer with TxDOT.